By Ian Bonham

Room (15)

Staring : Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers

Director : Lenny Abrahamson

Writers : Emma Donoghue (Screenplay adapted from her book of the same name)

Duration : 1 hour, 58 minutes

Oscar Win: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role - Brie Larson

Opening at Kings Bastion Leisure Cinema on Friday 18^th March

'Room' is simply a stunning piece of cinema which reminded me why I do love going to the movies so much. This film was toured around a lot of film festivals before getting a limited release in the USA before Oscars season, and Brie Larson took a highly deserved win off the back of a simply incredible performance. Here's an interesting one for you fact fans: Brie Larson reportedly rarely washed her face during filming so the audience could see she was not wearing make up to add to the realism.

Now, it is this realism and cast dedication that makes this movie a very difficult watch at times. To give you a brief outline, so you know what to expect here, the first hour of the film is set basically in the eponymous 'Room'. A 10 foot by 10 foot space in which 'Ma' (Larson) and her son 'Jack' (Jacob Tremblay) have been imprisoned for quite some time, Ma having been abducted by 'Old Nick' (Sean Bridgers). Everything they need to 'live' is contained in this tiny space and their only view of the world outside is a sky light. To make the claustrophobia palpable on screen, the set was actually a 10 foot by 10 foot space, with four walls, giving Director Abrahamson some considerable challenges in shooting it. The horror of Ma's situation is utterly disturbing, and the only thing keeping her going being her efforts to raise her son, who has never seen the outside world in his short life and doesn't believe it exists. Larson and (especially) Tremblay deliver astonishing performances here, and you utterly believe their relationship.

Events take a dramatic turn for the worse towards the end of the first hour, and Ma finally decides they HAVE to escape the Room. They execute a daring plan, and I was absolutely on the edge of my seat through out this act of the film. Although this feels like a long act, Director Abrahamson isn't dwelling on the escape as he is more interested in getting on with the third act. However the tension during this sequence of events makes it feel a lot longer than it actually is, it is that well constructed.

The second hour of the movie covers Ma trying to cope with the trauma she has been through during her incarceration, and Jack coming to terms with a whole world. The movie doesn't really cover much about 'Old Nick' and his punishment, being more about the Mother and Son relationship and how they adjust. This is an emotional journey, for them and the audience. There is still drama, but also some warm humour, and the movie ends with a note of hope.

This is a beautiful film, which is engaging, emotional and dramatic. Every actor involved gives it 100% and really pull you in to the story, leaving you slightly exhausted by the end. Thankfully this not a true story, but I could not help reflecting on the real world true stories we have heard over the years and been horrified by. This is not a story capitalising on those terrible events though, it is much more character focused and looks at the victims very compassionately.

Brie Larson very much deserved the Oscar here for an amazing performance. It's an irony that DiCaprio won his for being lost in huge open spaces, and Larson wins hers for being in a tiny space for a large chunk of the film. Tremblay also deserves huge praise for his performance, for such a young boy to manage to play his role so well is simply staggering.

'Room' is an emotional roller coaster, beautifully made, and with powerful performances. If you feel you can cope with the first hour, which can be harrowing at times, then it is a rewarding journey to go on. It ends with a great feeling of hope, powered by a mother’s love for her child. Take some tissues, and go and see it.